Sickle Cell Anemia-(a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells)
is caused by an abnornal type of homoglobin (a protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen)
called homoglobin S. Homoglobin S changes the shape of red blood cells, especially when exposed to low oxygen levels. The red cells become shaped like crescents or sickles. Red blood cells carry and deliver oxygen to the body's tissues but with this disease because of the "sickle shaped cells" they are more prone to get stuck in small blood vessels,
Image A is showing us how normal red blood cells look while image B is showing us what sickle cells looks like.
and break into pieces that interupt healthy blood flow.
Sickle Cell Anemia is inharited by both parents with the homoglobin S gene and by Malaria. It has been proven that stickle cell anemia is much more common for African American's due to the fact that Africa was hit-hard by malaria. The malaria parasite also tends to increase the chance that your cell's will sickle. It is said that in Africa in some regions, as much as 40 percent of the population carries at least one HbS (homoglobin S) gene. Scientists believe the sickle cell gene appeared and disappeared in the population several times, but became permanently established after a particularly vicious form of malaria jumped from animals to humans.
In the past, sickle cell patients often died from organ failure between ages 20 and 40. Thanks to a better understanding and management of the disease, today, patients can live into their 50s or beyond.
How is it possible that people can live with only one kidney?
I remember being a little girl watching surgeries on T.V. about kidney transplants and wondering how it was possible that humans can (most of the time) survive with only one kidney.
Most of us know that the kidneys have many functions that vary from regulating blood pressure, producing red blood cells, activating vitamin D, producing amounts of glucose and of course, filtering bodily fluids to the bloodstream while excess water, nitrogen, electrolytes and other wastes get excreted as urine. In the kidney there are nephrons which are tiny tubes that filter bodily fluids either returning it back to the blood stream or sending it down into the bladder. Another way of saying all of this....YOU NEED A KIDNEY TO SURVIVE! But, what I didn't know was that we are all born with an overabundant (extra) kidney capacity. A single kidney with only 75% of its functional capacity can sustain life very well. If only one kidney is present it can adjust to filter just as much as two kidneys usually would. When that happens it is called Hypertrophy. Hyperthrophy happens when the nephrons compensate individually by increasing in size to handle the extra load.
So, there you have it! Because we are born with an overabundant kidney capacity and our body's have the ability to perform Hyperthophy we can survive off of one kidney.
In my eyes, people who have anorexia need to feel in control and I think they believe that by starving themselves they can be and will be in control. But what those people don't realize is that the "control" they crave soon becomes an obsession, a need, a want. Anorexia takes over you, your body and your brain. It's a mental illness, a disease. And the sad part is after years of torture and pain that so many of these people with this disease feel, it'll be too late. Somewhere inside of them they will always need that "control". They may be able to recover physically but never fully mentally.
The reason why I am researching about this topic is because I know so many people who feel stupid, fat or not good enough and a lot of times this is where it leads them to. And guess what? Anorexia IS NOT the answer. If anything it only makes things worse.
Anorexia is a disease that feeds on the way you look/feel about yourself. Many people start out with cutting down on some foods but then it quicky turns into a game of power- YOU VS. FOOD. It may seem harmless at first but you will soon realize that bad things will start to happen.
When you start skipping meals and avoiding eating your body can't get the energy from foods that it needs, so it slows down.
Visible physical effects:
dramatic weight loss
hair thins and becomes brittle (begins to fall out)
heart- slows down, low blood pressure, palpitations (fluttering of the heart), heart failure
blood- anemia (a condition where there is a deficiency of red cells or haemoglobin(a red protien containing iron, reponsible for transporting oxygen throught the body)
muscles- weaken
joints- weaken, swell, fracture, osteoporosis (bones become brittle)
kidneys- kidney stones, kidney failure
intestines- constipation, bloating
hormones- periods stop, stunts growth, bone loss
Effects on brain:
distracted- fear of gaining weight, sense of control
increased dopamine (chemical involved in weight, eating behaviors, reward and reinforcement)- can cause suicidal thoughts
perfectionist- a need for an unrealistic perfection
social withdrawl
If you know ANYONE who has these symptoms don't wait to try to get them help. It is very serious and can result in death.
The definition for Scizophrenia is~ a mental disorder involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings and withdrawl from reality into fantasy and delusion. So obviously, this is a complex mental illness.
Individuals with Schizophrenia, have reduced volume of grey matter in the brain, especially in the temporal and frontal lobes. (Grey matter is the greyish nervous tissue containing cell bodies; forms the cerebral cortex.) Recent studies show that people with Schizophernia can lose up to 25% of grey matter. The grey matter loss starts in the outer sections of the brain and within a 5 year period, begins to spread to the rest of the brain. The higher percentage of grey matter loss the worse the symptoms get.
Symptoms:hearing internal voices
hallucinating
appering to be delusional
social withdrawl
inability to cry or express joy
inapropriate laughter or crying
depression
oversleeping or insomnia
strange use of words or ways of speaking
Causes:
Mental health specialists are not sure what exactly causes this disease but they say that genitic factors appear to play a major role.
Certain environmental events may trigger schizophrenia in people who are genetically at risk for it
You are more likely to develop schizophrenia if you have a family member with the disease
Treatment:
The most common treatment for schizophrenia are antipsychotic medications like:
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
Haloperidol (Haldol)
Perphenazine (generic only)
Fluphenazine (generic only).
These are medications that help balance the chemicals in your brain.
Although this disease can be very life changing it is possible to cope with it. All you need is a strong support system, proper medications and someone who you think of as your 'rock'. A lot of times, people who have a mental illness find it helps to talk to someone. Saying what we feel out loud can really be life changing. :)
When I was youunger i swear I had obsessive complusive disorder... For example, if somebody touched my right arm i would HAVE to touch my left arm in the exact same place! And now that I think about it my left side has ALWAYS felt 'un-even' compared to the right side of my body and I still have to check my closet every night before i go to sleep! Yes...I know, I`m weird.
So why do i feel this way?
Well OCD is a disease pushed by anxiety. It is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). These repetitive behaviors may consist of touching, washing, looking, cleaning, counting, eating or smelling and often people with OCD obsess about doing these things to try to prevent the obsessive thoughts or make them go away (for the time being). The sad part is most of the time these obsessive rituals end up controlling people's life because they can't control the anxiety that they're feeling.
There are two phycological factors that specialists believe influence OCD - behavior and cognitive theories.
Behavior theories suggests that people with OCD associate certain objects or situations with fear, and that they learn to avoid the things they fear or to perform rituals that help reduce the fear. Because these rituals temporarily reduce the level of fear, the fear is never challenged and dealt with and the behaviour is reinforced.
Cognitive theories focuses on how people with OCD misinterpret their thoughts. This happens when people actually fear their thoughts and use rituals as an excuse to avoid them.
Most times people with OCD have a chemical imbalance of serotonin. Serotonin plays a role in the regulation of mood, aggression, impulse control, sleep, appetite, body temperature and pain.
* All of the medicines used to treat OCD raise the levels of serotonin available to transmit messages.
I just want to point out how greatful I am that my obsessiveness has not gone to the level of no return!!!! This would definitly be a very stressful disease but it is treatable.
Watch this video and try to understand how annoying this would be..!!
Ebola Virus is a deadly contagious virus that causes horrible symptoms such a a high fever and massive internal bleeding. It is also known as one of the viruses that causes hemorrhagic fever which is also known as "bloody fever". It is said to be one of the deadliest viruses on the planet.
Pathogen: A protein on the surface of the virus has been discovered that is responsible for the severe internal bleeding. The protein attacks and destroys the endothelial cells (a thin, flattened cell that lines the inside surfaces of blood vescles, body cavitis and lymph vesscles) lining blood vessels, causing the vessels to leak and bleed.
Transmission methods: The way in which the virus first appears in a human at the start of an outbreak has not been determined. However, it has been hypothesized that the first patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal. Humans do not "carry" the virus. Ebola virus is transmitted by contact with blood, feces, body fluids from an infected person or by direct contact with the virus ( as in a laboratory). People can be exposed to Ebola virus from direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected person. A lot of times if a member of a family has the virus the other members of the family and friends will catch it because it is that contagious.
Who was impacted\regions infected: Epidemics of the Ebola Virus have many occured in African countires such as Zaire, Gabon, Uganda, the Ivory Coast, and Sudan. Both men and women have an equal chance of catching this virus.
Symptoms:
High fever
headache
muscle aches
stomach pain
dierrhea
sore throat
red\itchy eyes
vommiting
development of a rash
epistaxis (nose bleeding)
hemoptysis (coughing up blood from lungs)
hematemesis (bloody vomitus)bloody eyes
dehydration
chest pain
Death rates: The death rates of the Ebola Virus are VERY HIGH. When infected with this virus it's death rate is 90%. The incubation period is 2 to 21 days and death can occur within 10 days of the symptoms. The first case appeared in 1972 but was not identified until 1976 when cases reappeared.
Treatment: Sadly, there is no vaccine for this virus. The only thing that can be done is called "supportive therapy". Supportive therapy consists of balancing the patient's fluids and electrolytes, maintaining their oxygen level and blood pressure, and treating them for any complicating infections. Scientists are currently working on finding a vaccine you can take so you won't catch Ebola virus.
So, this is kind of a strange topic to do but, lets be honest~ who has ever wondered exactly what happens in your body when sexy time occurs!!!??? I have!
As teenagers, we are always being warned of the bad things that can happen during sex and while those are very important things I wanted to find out the good things about what sex\orgasms can do to your body.
An Orgasm is defined as the climax of sexual excitement, characterized by intensly pleasurable sensations centred in the genitals. When most people think of the word orgasm they think of it only in the sexual benifit ways but, did you know that an orgasm can be a stress reliever, a diet tool, can lead to a healthier you and improve the quality of your skin?!?!!? Well, it can!
STRESS- Each day our brain's go through many different physical and phycological challenges, and when we engage in sexual activity stress can be reduced by the release of endorphins. Endorphins are natural pain and stress fighters that the body can release.
DIET TOOL- As strange as it may sound, having orgasms actually gives you a better chance of sticking to your diet. The reason why is because the chemical phenethylamine increases. Phenethylamine is know to "curb the appetite", by helping people's attention spand and creating a feeling of joy or well-being. Seratonin (a chemical messenger that affects moods and emotions) is also increased. Seratonin can have a calming effect on cravings such as junk food or cigarettes and can create a sense of well-being. With those chemicals increased you may be able to actually stick to a diet and be happy with yourself!
HEALTHIER SELF- Right before people experience the sexual climax, the level of DHEA is increased. (DHEA is a natural steroid hormone known to improve brain function, the cardiovascular system, fat metabolism, boost immune system and promote healthy looking skin.) According to a study by behavioral endocrinologist, Dr. Winifred Cutler, indicates that women who engage in sexual activity weekly have higher levels of oestrogen in their blood, which can lead to a healthier cardiovascular system, lower bad cholesterol, increase the level of good cholesterol, add to bone density and give you suppler skin. It has also been proven that people who enage in sexual activity (IN A NON PROMISCUOS WAY!!!) had one third higher levels of immunoglobin A, an antibody that boosts the immune system and can help fight colds and flu. Achieving orgasms on a regular basis can also boost infection-fighting cells up to 20%!
GLOWING SKIN- During sexy time, your body perspires (becomes wet with sweat) which helps flush out toxins and releases skin- nourishing oils. Deep breathing and an elevated heart rate also causes more oxygen to flow in to the body. This keeps organs and tissues extra healthy!
There you have it! Sex\orgasms can be a great tool for a variety of healthy reasons.
*NOTE* This does not mean you should have sex to be healthy!! In my opinion sex is ment to be a special experience that happens with the person you love. WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE READY!!
Everyone HATES pimples and that's an established fact. But, as I look in the mirror I am wondering what exactly pimples are and what is the best way to rid yourself of the nasty, little zits that may come your way!
What: A pimple is a small papule (small, solid, rounded bumps that rise from the skin) or pustule (full of puss). Pimples are oil glands that are infected by bacteria and eventually swell up and fill with puss. They are also said to be small skin lesions or inflammation of the skin.
Cause: Pimples are caused by the sebaceous glands (tiny skin glands which secrete sebum - an waxy/oily substance, to lubricate the skin and hair) when they become overactive.
The sebaceous glands are located inside the pores of our skin. Most times pimples may occur because dead skin cells are left behind and are stuck together by the sticky sebum, which causes a blockage in our pores. Once the blockage occurs the sebum has a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes. Propionibacterium is a slow growing bacterium that is linked to acne. Thankfully this kind of bacteria is harmless, but in the right conditions it can produce rapidly and become a problem...aka LOTS OF PIMPLES.
Treatment: On T.V. we all watch these beautiful people with perfect skin, try to convince us that what they use works. LETS GET REAL HERE!!! They all have specialists and makeup artists who can fix just about any skin problem. So, instead of spending all your money on skin products that Justin Beiber claims "cleared ALL his acne" here are 5 simple steps to follow to better enhance your chance from breaking out!
WASH YOUR FACE with warm water and a mild soap. Scrub gently!
DO NOT POP YOUR PIMPLES! Popping pimples could cause scarring and it could increase the swelling and redness of your pimple
TRY NOT TO TOUCH YOUR FACE.The amount of oils and bacteria on our hands is discusting and if those get into your pores you may end up with some clogging of the pores which would = pimples!
WASH YOUR HANDS as frequently as possible. Make sure to keep your nails clean and short.
KEEP YOUR HAIR CLEAN!!! The oilsand sebum from your hair also have the ability to clog up those pores!
FUN FACTS:
More then 80% of teenagers have pimples at 1 point
Having pimples or acne can be hereditary
Pimples are NOT contagious
Most commun places pimples are found- face, back and chest. These are places where hair touches most and a greater amount of sebum is produced because of the warm and sometimes tight conditions of clothing.
Stress may also cause pimples
In my opinion, the most important thing to remember is that if you develop pimples here and there... NO ONE WILL CARE! So, stop stressing, don't touch it and just get over it! Everyone gets pimples.
In my opinion, I am all for stem cell research. If we can save lives for people who have diseases that are uncurable without the help of embryonic stem cells, then why wouldn't we take advantage of this incredible opportunity that has presented itself? But, with saying that I can see how some people may see it as being morally wrong because technically taking the inner cell mass from the blastocyst is "killing" the organism. Although, I honestly think that if a person was diagnosed with an uncurable disease like Parkinsons and they were given the choice to choose between life with them using embryonic stem cells or death without them, the person would most likly chose life. In the end, morals don't always matter and most times people are selfish. It's unfair to kill innocent organisms, but it's also unfair to have the propor technology and not use it to save peoples lfes'. I see it that we should take advantage of the possibilities.
1. I agree that the unused embryos in IVF clinics should be made availible to researchers for stem cell research. If people are not ok with embryos being used then how would they feel if they were being "discarded"?????? Atleast keep them for research so it's not a complete waste.
2. If we have the technology to improve human life, then we should absolutly build on that technology.
3. I don't agree that the government should fund emryonic stem cells research with taxpayer monies simply because so many people would have such a HUGE problem with it. I do think that the government should find some way to fund the research though.
4. I think the government could regulate stem cell research, but those people in the government are not the scientists who are researching all these possiblities and I think it would be a little harder to understand if you wern't hands on apart of what science is doing and I think certain people in the government would have a problem with stem cell research because of their belifs. I think there should be some kind of lead scientist who must tell everything to a committee in the government so they always know what's going on.
5. Laws for adult stem cells should differ from embryonic stem cells to a certain extent. Obviously, you must get the donars consent for donating emryonic stem cells and they should be well aware what is being researched and what happens to the embryos. It must be in a controled environment that is lead by a mai scientist and is always aware of what is happening. For adult stem cells I think as long as you have the donars consent and if they are to be reseached they are done in a controlled way, then there is no problem.
6. I agree that therapeutic cloning should be permitted. It is another way that we can save peoples lifes' and I see it as being unfair if we were to prevent saving life's.
What is love? Is it classifed by what you would do for a person, what you say to a person, or maybe, what you feel with a person? Well, love could be classifed as any of those things. But, my question is...is it possible to be "crazy" in love?!
When you feel yourself becomming more and more attracted to someone in an emotional or physical sense there are 3 major chemicals that are released- phenethylamine, dopamine, and oxytocin. Phenethylamine is an endorphin that makes people feel happy and attached; Dopamine is known as the "pleasure chemical" (enough said) and oxytocin is released through touch and sensual acts (cuddling hormone). Because all these emotions make us feel warm and happy it is only natural that these hormones are secreted when being around the person whom we are interested in.
When the "love chemicals" are firing away, physical changes begin to happen - sweaty palms (story of my life), light-headness and feelings of euphoria.
Now heres where things get weird...A 2005 study published in The Physcologist, that Neurochemical and brain scanning investigations have shown a considerable overlap between the "brain in love" and the "brain in the throes of mental illness". So, basically, when people say they are "madly in love", they're not far off!! When people fall in love they frequently show a variety of symptoms that fall under several categories of mental illness. EXAMPLE 1- When people are going through a maniac state they show an abnormal amount of self esteem, heightened mood and tend to do out of the norm type things like buy people incredible gifts. (Nudge, nudge)
EXAMPLE 2- People who suffer from obsessive- compulsive disorder must be fixed on a certain thing like turning lights on and off, constantly cleaning or even double/triple checking your phone for any missed calls or texts. (Hint, hint)
EXAMPLE 3- People who hoard things like to hang on to valueless items such as toys, socks, tickets, love notes, ect. (Wink, wink)
Hmmmmmhh...crazy eh!!?
Now you know that the next time you're feeling crazy in love remember to be careful... You're suffering from bits of different kinds of mental illnesses!!!
But, I am still a beleiver of true love and all the beauty it brings to one's life. I hope everyone experiences being crazy inlove atleast once! :)
The gallblader is a small organ located right under the livers. It's main function is to store bile, made by the liver. Bile is made up of water, cholesteral, fats, bile salts and a pigment called bilirubin. Gallstones form if the bile contains too much cholesteral, bile salts, or bilirubin.
2 types of gallstones- 1. Cholesterol stones, which account for 80% of gallstones. Cholesteral stones contain mostly hardened cholesteral.
2. Pigment stones, which account for the other 20% of gallstones. Pigment stones contain bilirubin.
Shapes and sizes- Gallstones can range from being very tiny to as big as a golfball. There could also be multiple stones present in the gallbalder.
Symtoms- Gallstone attack- pain under the right shoulder, pain in back between shoulder blades, severe pain in the upper middle or upper right abdomen that increases and neasea/vomiting.
*Most people who have gallstones don't typically have any symptoms, these are known as "silent stones". Most times gallstones are detected during tests and usually don't need to be treated.
You could be a risk for gallstones IF...
you are over 60
you have diabetes- people with diabetes generally have high levels of fatty acid called triglycerides (increases chances of developing gallstones)
you are obese
rapid weight loss- causes liver to secrete extra bile into the gallbladder
woman between the ages of 20-60 are twice as likely to develop stones then men
How to prevent gallstones- There is no sure way to prevent gallstones, but these 4 easy habits could decrease your changes.
1.MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT. 2. If you have diabetes, control it. 3. Keep track of your cholesteral. 4. Be careful when on birth control or other hormone medicines. Extra estrogen can increase a woman's risk of gallstones.
1. Charles Monet, the book's first main character, takes a trip to Mount Elgon on New Years eve where he ends up contracting a lethal virus, known as Ebola. After just a few short days, Monet begins to feel the initial symptoms of Ebola: a headache, red eyes, backache, neausa, ect. Within a couple days he was flown to the to the Nairobi hospital in Africa. On the plane ride there, Monet becomes sicker and begins to throw up a black\red substance known as vomito negro or the black vomit. Not long after Monet arrives at the hospital he bleeds out in the lobby on the floor. Dr. Shem Musoke then comes to Monets rescue in an attempt to save him but has no such luck. While trying to save Monet's life, Dr. Musoke ends up catching something by accidently ingesting the virus by Monet throwing up all over him. Dr, Musoke is diagnosed with Marburg, a sister virus to Ebola, and ends up living even though he was near death at one point.
Part 1 also talks about Ebola in depth: where it originated, how it is caught, if there are any cures, what is known about it, other fatal cases, ect. This part of the book really gives you a good idea of how terrifying this strain of virus is. It was very interesting and I didn`t want to put down the book to take a break!
2. The first major "whoa" moment I had while reading the first part of The Hot Zone was when the frenchman Charles Monet came down with the mysterious illness that we would later find out was Ebola. I was so, so, so disgusted at the end of the first chapter when Richard Preston discribed Monet's death; "He became utterly weak, his spine goes weak and nereless and he losses all sense of balance, he leans over and brings up an incredible quantity of blood from his stomach and spills it onto the floor with a gasping groan. Then comes a sound like a bedsheet being torn in half, which is the sound of his bowels opening and venting blood from the anus. The blood is mixed with intestinal lining." As I was reading this part of the book, I was on my way to New York, driving in the car with a couple of my good friends and I honestly made them read it just so I could see their reactions!! It made me realize how crazy and scary things are that we have no idea about. I kept thinking about what I would do if I knew someone who was suffering from the Ebola virus and it was really scary to think about. Can you imagine if someone you loved caught a deadly virus? What would you do?
As the twenty first century becomes more knowledgable and advanced then any other time in history, we are comming up with new cures and new advantages to help protect ourselves from pathogenes. With saying that, I found a website that states that "Army Researchers found a possible cure for the Ebola virus strain. It states that Army Labs have devised an experimental injection that cures the Ebola virus by targeting its's genetic material- " The injection uses a novel technique, called RNA interference, to stop viral cells from replicating. Scientists packaged RNA snippets into particles that were then injected into four rhesus monkeys, who’d been infected with a dose of Ebola that was 30,000 times more potent than the virus’ most lethal strain. The snippets latched onto key viral proteins, and cured all four monkeys after a week of daily injections." How exciting is that!! If they're developing a cure for monkeys then can't they develop the same one for humans?? Hopefully!
1. Part 2 of The Hot Zone skips to four years later where Nancy Jaax and her husband, Jerry, are introduced. Nancy and Jerry both work in the army in the Vet Corps in Fort Detrick (the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command). They begin helping out with the sick monkeys at a monkey house that were imported from Uganda and soon relaize that something is wrong. Monkeys keep dying and they can't quite understand why, until a lab technition, Thomas Geisbert, discovers that they are dealing with a lethal virus, which he thought was Marburg. "This cell was a mess. It wasn't just dead-it had been destroyed. It was blown apart." -pg 195. Thomas then told his bosses who told him to test it for Ebola and to their horror, he discovered that the monkeys were dying from something much worse than Marburg; they were dying from Ebola Zaire.
A big board meeting is then called where the Army and the Centers for disease Control are forced to split the management of the outbreak. The CDC would handle human-health care aspects and the Army would handle the monkeys and the monkey house, the nest of the outbreak. Jerry Jaax is then assigned to lead the missions at the monkey house where all the rsearch and testing will be happening.
2. In the second part of this book I found it interesting to read about how long it took the researchers to figure out that the monkey's were dying from an extreamly lethal virus that could possibly be Ebola or an Ebola carrying agent. It is really scary to think about too! Most of the symptoms were right infront of them the whole time (glazed over eyes, sudden,repetitive deaths, lots of blood, ect), but I think the reality of the most lethal virus known to man kind, entering the United States was too scary for anyone to want to believe, at first.
When reading about the deadly situations people put themselves in, it really opens my eyes and makes me realize how selfish so many people are. Not many people would be willing to put there lives at risk for a horrible, lethal, painful virus to try to save (potentially) the world. BUT, at the same time, those people were being selfish because they were working with such a risky thing that could end their life. What would YOU do???!
I decided to do some research on how easy it would be to contract Ebola in sanitary conditions and this is what I came up with: Despite the extremely high fatality rate of certain strains of Ebola, health officials state that, under sanitary conditions, the virus is actually difficult to contract. Like HIV, Ebola spreads through direct contact with an infected person's blood or bodily fluids. Unlike HIV, which can live inside an individual and be passed along to others for ten years or more before symptoms appear, Ebola has a relatively short incubation period. Once the symptoms of Ebola appear, precautions can be taken to halt its spread to others. Health officials say that because Ebola kills its victims so quickly, the chance of the virus ever becoming widespread among human populations is low. What a relief! It makes sense why it spread so fast in places like Africa because, sadly, the don't have the same resources we do such as a constant supply of clean drinking water, clean needles, ect.
Hopefully, such a lethal disease will never attack the human race again!!
1. Part 3 of The Hot Zone mostly takes place in an infected monkey house, situated in Reston. Jerry Jaxx forms a team of people who are trained and prepared to deal with the deadly virus known as Ebola that the team will face in the monkey house. Upon the first day of arrival, the team quickly comes to realize that word has spread about the dangerous events that are happening inside the building. The team was very careful to not give anything away. They wore regular clothing when they arrived at the building so no reporters could make up false accusastions. When they were asked to go inside the building, the members of the team would go behind the building, where no one could see them, change into their bio-hazardous spacesuits and go through many safety precautions before they entered the building.
Jerry had to make a very difficult desicion, which was to kill all the monkeys in the building. He did this because he felt all the monkeys would eventually suffer from Ebola. Jerry used a special injector deviceto give shots to the monkeys and injected monkeys thighs' with a double dose of ketamine (a general anesthetic). When the monkeys were asleep they were placed on a stainless steal table and blood samples were drawn. The mokeys were then given a final, lethal shot of T-61. Once the mokeys were annonced clinically dead, they were opened up, where samples of liver and spleen were taken. The bodies were then bagged up and loaded into hatboxes along the corridor.
The signs of Ebola were obvious. Nancy Jaxx descirbed what she saw as "horrendous gut lessions". It was decided that they would call the virus Ebola Reston. This type of Ebola (for now) could only infect monkeys and was airborn.
After all the mokeys were killed and every member on the team had finished which ever job they were assigned, a decon team scrubbed the building with bleech, brought 39 Sunbeam electric fry pans and dropped a handful of disinfectant crystals. The master switch was thrown on on December 18; the Sunbeams began to cook and the crystals began to release formaldehyde gas. After a few days they concluded that the sterlization process was a succsess. The monkey house in Reston was the only place in the world where nothing lived, nothing at all.
Ebola Reston tissure culture
2. "Something very strange was going on here. Nature had seemed to be closing in on us for a kill, when she suddenly turned her face away and smiled. It was a Mona Lisa smile, the meaning of which no one could figure out". -pg 355
As soon as I read this quote I was completly mesmorized. It is a complicated metaphor that is so perfect for this lethal virus in the monkey house known as Reston. I believe that of all the things that go bump in our nightmares, the scariest are those that make no sound and that is why Ebola is so terrifying. No one really knows where it came from and no one knows the cure for it. Viruses sneak up on you without warning and attack.
I think this metaphor is referring to the strain of disease that was infecting the monkeys in the monkey house. It would eventually kill all the monkeys, but for some reason, it killed 0 humans. It also said that the strain of virus did in fact enter the monkey's care takers, but it did not infect them.
It's so strange and eerie to wonder why that happened. Just one little mutation could have started a major pandemic within the human race. So why didn't it? It's a great mystery.
1. In the last part of The Hot Zone, Richard Preston goes on a trip to Mount Elgon. He travels there with a couple friends, Jamy Buchanan and Frederic Grant, along with a professional hunter, Robin MacDonald, and his family. Richard takes many safety precautions by packing: a level 4 biological space suit, a gallon of Jik (Bleech), green ruber gauntlet gloves, yellow ruber boots, a black mask, sticky tape, a plastic shower cap, a head lamp and a flashlight. Before Richard enters the cave he puts on all his gear and takes the flashlight in, where he begins to look around. While he is in the cave he notes all the life and diversity and all the possible hosts to the Ebola strain: fruit bats, insect bats, moths, flies, spiders, even rocks. Once he leaves the cave, him and his team head back to camp where a few of them begin to play poker and drink whiskey and beer. The novel finishes with Richard going to the abandon monkey house where he discovers that the building has been for lease for many years. He looks into the windows and notes that there are living organisms in the building: spiders, Tartarian honeysuckle vines and other insects; Life is evident in the building. Richard concludes the book by stating that Ebola will be back.
2. While reading about Richard Preston's experience in the cave, it really made me think about how creepy and eerie it is that such a deadly strain is claimed to have once lived there. I thought about "the rush" you would get from going inside such a dangerous cave! I'm sure it would be quite terrifying, but also beautiful. The scenery in the cave seems mysterious and it makes me want to travel there to check it out one day! Would I take the precautions that Richard took while entering Mount Elgon or would I go in there in simple, regular hiking clothing? What would you do?
While reading The Hot Zone I had always wondered if Ebola was an RNA or DNA virus; it turns out it is an RNA virus. This makes sense because the book talked a lot about how quickly the Ebola strain could mutate and that was why it was so hard to find a cure for it. It is also an enveloped virus that is shapped like a "U".
This was a very enjoyable book to read and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys biology. Part 1 of The Hot Zone really hooks it's readers and makes us want to know more and more about the deadly virus known as Ebola. I hope one day a cure will be found for this deadly virus, that way there will be no more horrible deaths caused by Ebola.
Throughout The Hot Zone, it talks a little bit about AIDS. I know that AIDS comes from the virus HIV and I wanted to find out what HIV is and facts about it. It seems to me that HIV is one of the largest problems in the world; it's heart breaking.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrom) which is caused by HIV (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus), is one of the most commonly known sexually- trasmitted diseases in all of the world. AIDS appereared around 25 years ago and quickly spread through the world. At the moment, there are approximently 33 million cases all through out the world. It can affect anyone, anywhere. So, my question is where did this terrible strain of virus come from and what (exactly) does it do to you?
HIV originally came from chimpanzees living in Central Africa. Authorities claim that the virus strain has been present in chimpanzees for thousands of years
HIV is known as an RNA virus; it can mutate into different strains that can affect different hosts
Researchers believe that HIV entered humans in African hunter's bodies, through wounds while hunting chimpanzees
From there, it quicky spread through out the world
What does HIV do?
The main thing that many people often overlook is that HIV does not make you sick; it weakens your immune system making you more susceptible to illnesses and infections.
This strain of virus enters your body and attacks your CD4 T cells (a special type of white blood cells that play an important role in our immune systems) and replicates inside the cells. The virus slowly beings to kill these cells without warning or symtoms.
CD4 T cell depletion during AIDS allows various pathogens to escape T cell recognition, thus allowing infections that would normally elicit a helper T cell response to bypass the immune system. You become sick very easily and after years of living with this disease, your body is no longer strong enough to fight off anything.
Treatment?
Sadly, there is no cure for this horrible disease, although, I did read about a patient who recieved a stem cell transplant and was cured, but this is not recommened for HIV due to the high mortality rate and uncertain chance of success. :(
Hopefully one day, science will catch up with this terrible disease and we can find a way to beat and cure it.
Watch this video to learn about how HIV attacks your CD4 T cells...
Hey hey hey...WELCOME TO JAMIE'S WIKI :)
HOMEWORK QUESTION #1
What is Sickle Cell Anemia?
Sickle Cell Anemia-(a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells)
is caused by an abnornal type of homoglobin (a protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen)
called homoglobin S. Homoglobin S changes the shape of red blood cells, especially when exposed to low oxygen levels. The red cells become shaped like crescents or sickles. Red blood cells carry and deliver oxygen to the body's tissues but with this disease because of the "sickle shaped cells" they are more prone to get stuck in small blood vessels,
Image A is showing us how normal red blood cells look while image B is showing us what sickle cells looks like.
and break into pieces that interupt healthy blood flow.
Sickle Cell Anemia is inharited by both parents with the homoglobin S gene and by Malaria. It has been proven that stickle cell anemia is much more common for African American's due to the fact that Africa was hit-hard by malaria. The malaria parasite also tends to increase the chance that your cell's will sickle. It is said that in Africa in some regions, as much as 40 percent of the population carries at least one HbS (homoglobin S) gene. Scientists believe the sickle cell gene appeared and disappeared in the population several times, but became permanently established after a particularly vicious form of malaria jumped from animals to humans.
In the past, sickle cell patients often died from organ failure between ages 20 and 40. Thanks to a better understanding and management of the disease, today, patients can live into their 50s or beyond.
References:A.D.A.M. Medical encylopedia. (2011, February 28). Sickle cell anemia [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001554/
National Heart Lung and Blood institute. (Photographer). (2011). Normal red blood cells and sickle cells. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/sca/
WIKI POST #1
How is it possible that people can live with only one kidney?
I remember being a little girl watching surgeries on T.V. about kidney transplants and wondering how it was possible that humans can (most of the time) survive with only one kidney.
Most of us know that the kidneys have many functions that vary from regulating blood pressure, producing red blood cells, activating vitamin D, producing amounts of glucose and of course, filtering bodily fluids to the bloodstream while excess water, nitrogen, electrolytes and other wastes get excreted as urine. In the kidney there are nephrons which are tiny tubes that filter bodily fluids either returning it back to the blood stream or sending it down into the bladder. Another way of saying all of this....YOU NEED A KIDNEY TO SURVIVE! But, what I didn't know was that we are all born with an overabundant (extra) kidney capacity. A single kidney with only 75% of its functional capacity can sustain life very well. If only one kidney is present it can adjust to filter just as much as two kidneys usually would. When that happens it is called Hypertrophy. Hyperthrophy happens when the nephrons compensate individually by increasing in size to handle the extra load.
So, there you have it! Because we are born with an overabundant kidney capacity and our body's have the ability to perform Hyperthophy we can survive off of one kidney.
References:Mark A.W. Andrews, A. (2001 , April 22). How can you live without one of your kidneys? [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-can-you-live-without
Childrens Hospital. (2011). Kidney failure [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1207/mainpageS1207P0.html
WIKI POST #2
What are the effects of anorexia?
In my eyes, people who have anorexia need to feel in control and I think they believe that by starving themselves they can be and will be in control. But what those people don't realize is that the "control" they crave soon becomes an obsession, a need, a want. Anorexia takes over you, your body and your brain. It's a mental illness, a disease. And the sad part is after years of torture and pain that so many of these people with this disease feel, it'll be too late. Somewhere inside of them they will always need that "control". They may be able to recover physically but never fully mentally.
The reason why I am researching about this topic is because I know so many people who feel stupid, fat or not good enough and a lot of times this is where it leads them to. And guess what? Anorexia IS NOT the answer. If anything it only makes things worse.
Anorexia is a disease that feeds on the way you look/feel about yourself. Many people start out with cutting down on some foods but then it quicky turns into a game of power- YOU VS. FOOD. It may seem harmless at first but you will soon realize that bad things will start to happen.
When you start skipping meals and avoiding eating your body can't get the energy from foods that it needs, so it slows down.
Visible physical effects:
dramatic weight loss
hair thins and becomes brittle (begins to fall out)
nails become brittle
skin becomes weak - bruises easily, drys up, turns yellow
constantly cold
wears loose, baggy clothing
Non-visible physical effects:
heart- slows down, low blood pressure, palpitations (fluttering of the heart), heart failure
blood- anemia (a condition where there is a deficiency of red cells or haemoglobin (a red protien containing iron, reponsible for transporting oxygen throught the body)
muscles- weaken
joints- weaken, swell, fracture, osteoporosis (bones become brittle)
kidneys- kidney stones, kidney failure
intestines- constipation, bloating
hormones- periods stop, stunts growth, bone loss
Effects on brain:
distracted- fear of gaining weight, sense of control
increased dopamine (chemical involved in weight, eating behaviors, reward and reinforcement)- can cause suicidal thoughts
perfectionist- a need for an unrealistic perfection
social withdrawl
If you know ANYONE who has these symptoms don't wait to try to get them help. It is very serious and can result in death.
Watch how serious this disease can get...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khJPJT7-mbk
References:
Melinda Smith, Sara Kovatch, Jeanna Segal, M. (2011, June). Anorexia nervosa. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anorexia_signs_symptoms_causes_treatment.htm
Dr. Phil. (2008). Dr. phil promo for deadly thin [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khJPJT7-mbk
CBS. (2011). 12 secret signs of anorexia. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-204_162-10004487-4.html?tag=page
WIKI POST #3
Schizophrenia
The definition for Scizophrenia is~ a mental disorder involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings and withdrawl from reality into fantasy and delusion. So obviously, this is a complex mental illness.
Individuals with Schizophrenia, have reduced volume of grey matter in the brain, especially in the temporal and frontal lobes. (Grey matter is the greyish nervous tissue containing cell bodies; forms the cerebral cortex.) Recent studies show that people with Schizophernia can lose up to 25% of grey matter. The grey matter loss starts in the outer sections of the brain and within a 5 year period, begins to spread to the rest of the brain. The higher percentage of grey matter loss the worse the symptoms get.
Symptoms:hearing internal voices
hallucinating
appering to be delusional
social withdrawl
inability to cry or express joy
inapropriate laughter or crying
depression
oversleeping or insomnia
strange use of words or ways of speaking
Causes:
Mental health specialists are not sure what exactly causes this disease but they say that genitic factors appear to play a major role.
Certain environmental events may trigger schizophrenia in people who are genetically at risk for it
You are more likely to develop schizophrenia if you have a family member with the disease
Treatment:
The most common treatment for schizophrenia are antipsychotic medications like:
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
Haloperidol (Haldol)
Perphenazine (generic only)
Fluphenazine (generic only).
These are medications that help balance the chemicals in your brain.
Although this disease can be very life changing it is possible to cope with it. All you need is a strong support system, proper medications and someone who you think of as your 'rock'. A lot of times, people who have a mental illness find it helps to talk to someone. Saying what we feel out loud can really be life changing. :)
Resources:
Melinda Smith, Jeanna Segal, M. J. (2011, March). Understanding schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://helpguide.org/mental/schizophrenia_symptom.htm
International Mental Health Research Organization (2009). Cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis and schizophrenia . Retrieved from http://www.schizophrenia.com/disease.htm
National Institute of Mental Health. (2011, October 12). What medications are used to treat schizophrenia?. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/what-medications-are-used-to-treat-schizophrenia.shtml
Inside the Brain. (Photographer). (2011). Schizophreniac brain. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://mdc09as.webnode.com/inside-the-brain/
Barb. (Photographer). (n.d.). Schizophrenia pictures and images - people with schizophrenia. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.clivir.com/lessons/show/schizophrenia-pictures-and-images-people-with-schizophrenia.html
WIKI POST #4
OCD
When I was youunger i swear I had obsessive complusive disorder... For example, if somebody touched my right arm i would HAVE to touch my left arm in the exact same place! And now that I think about it my left side has ALWAYS felt 'un-even' compared to the right side of my body and I still have to check my closet every night before i go to sleep! Yes...I know, I`m weird.
So why do i feel this way?
Well OCD is a disease pushed by anxiety. It is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). These repetitive behaviors may consist of touching, washing, looking, cleaning, counting, eating or smelling and often people with OCD obsess about doing these things to try to prevent the obsessive thoughts or make them go away (for the time being). The sad part is most of the time these obsessive rituals end up controlling people's life because they can't control the anxiety that they're feeling.
There are two phycological factors that specialists believe influence OCD - behavior and cognitive theories.
Behavior theories suggests that people with OCD associate certain objects or situations with fear, and that they learn to avoid the things they fear or to perform rituals that help reduce the fear. Because these rituals temporarily reduce the level of fear, the fear is never challenged and dealt with and the behaviour is reinforced.
Cognitive theories focuses on how people with OCD misinterpret their thoughts. This happens when people actually fear their thoughts and use rituals as an excuse to avoid them.
Most times people with OCD have a chemical imbalance of serotonin. Serotonin plays a role in the regulation of mood, aggression, impulse control, sleep, appetite, body temperature and pain.
* All of the medicines used to treat OCD raise the levels of serotonin available to transmit messages.
I just want to point out how greatful I am that my obsessiveness has not gone to the level of no return!!!! This would definitly be a very stressful disease but it is treatable.
Watch this video and try to understand how annoying this would be..!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn1OYlYzgm8
Recources:
National Institute of Mental Health. (2009, July 7). Obsessive- complusive disorder. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-disorder.shtml
Center for Addiction and Mental Health. (2011, August 5). What causes ocd?. Retrieved from http://www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Mental_Health_Information/OCD/ocd_causes.html
Mommy Rhetoric. (Artist). (Septermeber 19). Ocd. [Web Drawing]. Retrieved from http://mommyrhetoric.wordpress.com/category/ocd/
Jenmayhem. (2007). Ocd girl [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn1OYlYzgm8
WIKI POST #5
Ebola Virus
Ebola Virus is a deadly contagious virus that causes horrible symptoms such a a high fever and massive internal bleeding. It is also known as one of the viruses that causes hemorrhagic fever which is also known as "bloody fever". It is said to be one of the deadliest viruses on the planet.
Pathogen: A protein on the surface of the virus has been discovered that is responsible for the severe internal bleeding. The protein attacks and destroys the endothelial cells (a thin, flattened cell that lines the inside surfaces of blood vescles, body cavitis and lymph vesscles) lining blood vessels, causing the vessels to leak and bleed.
Transmission methods: The way in which the virus first appears in a human at the start of an outbreak has not been determined. However, it has been hypothesized that the first patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal. Humans do not "carry" the virus. Ebola virus is transmitted by contact with blood, feces, body fluids from an infected person or by direct contact with the virus ( as in a laboratory). People can be exposed to Ebola virus from direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected person. A lot of times if a member of a family has the virus the other members of the family and friends will catch it because it is that contagious.
Who was impacted\regions infected: Epidemics of the Ebola Virus have many occured in African countires such as Zaire, Gabon, Uganda, the Ivory Coast, and Sudan. Both men and women have an equal chance of catching this virus.
Symptoms:
High fever
headache
muscle aches
stomach pain
dierrhea
sore throat
red\itchy eyes
vommiting
development of a rash
epistaxis (nose bleeding)
hemoptysis (coughing up blood from lungs)
hematemesis (bloody vomitus)bloody eyes
dehydration
chest pain
Death rates: The death rates of the Ebola Virus are VERY HIGH. When infected with this virus it's death rate is 90%. The incubation period is 2 to 21 days and death can occur within 10 days of the symptoms. The first case appeared in 1972 but was not identified until 1976 when cases reappeared.
Treatment: Sadly, there is no vaccine for this virus. The only thing that can be done is called "supportive therapy". Supportive therapy consists of balancing the patient's fluids and electrolytes, maintaining their oxygen level and blood pressure, and treating them for any complicating infections. Scientists are currently working on finding a vaccine you can take so you won't catch Ebola virus.
References:
MedicineNet. (2011, April 4). Definition of ebola virus. Retrieved from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6518
World Health Organization, W. (2008, December). Ebola haemorrhagic fever. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en
Gory Files. (Photographer). (2009). Ebola patient (intensive care). [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://goryfiles.blogspot.com/2009/05/ebola-virus-is-one-of-deadliest-viruses.html
Petra. (Photographer). (2007). Petrafied!. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://blog.petrafied.org/2007/10/ebola-in-dr-of-congo/
WIKI POST #6
SEXY TIME
So, this is kind of a strange topic to do but, lets be honest~ who has ever wondered exactly what happens in your body when sexy time occurs!!!??? I have!
As teenagers, we are always being warned of the bad things that can happen during sex and while those are very important things I wanted to find out the good things about what sex\orgasms can do to your body.
An Orgasm is defined as the climax of sexual excitement, characterized by intensly pleasurable sensations centred in the genitals. When most people think of the word orgasm they think of it only in the sexual benifit ways but, did you know that an orgasm can be a stress reliever, a diet tool, can lead to a healthier you and improve the quality of your skin?!?!!? Well, it can!
STRESS- Each day our brain's go through many different physical and phycological challenges, and when we engage in sexual activity stress can be reduced by the release of endorphins. Endorphins are natural pain and stress fighters that the body can release.
DIET TOOL- As strange as it may sound, having orgasms actually gives you a better chance of sticking to your diet. The reason why is because the chemical phenethylamine increases. Phenethylamine is know to "curb the appetite", by helping people's attention spand and creating a feeling of joy or well-being. Seratonin (a chemical messenger that affects moods and emotions) is also increased. Seratonin can have a calming effect on cravings such as junk food or cigarettes and can create a sense of well-being. With those chemicals increased you may be able to actually stick to a diet and be happy with yourself!
HEALTHIER SELF- Right before people experience the sexual climax, the level of DHEA is increased. (DHEA is a natural steroid hormone known to improve brain function, the cardiovascular system, fat metabolism, boost immune system and promote healthy looking skin.) According to a study by behavioral endocrinologist, Dr. Winifred Cutler, indicates that women who engage in sexual activity weekly have higher levels of oestrogen in their blood, which can lead to a healthier cardiovascular system, lower bad cholesterol, increase the level of good cholesterol, add to bone density and give you suppler skin. It has also been proven that people who enage in sexual activity (IN A NON PROMISCUOS WAY!!!) had one third higher levels of immunoglobin A, an antibody that boosts the immune system and can help fight colds and flu. Achieving orgasms on a regular basis can also boost infection-fighting cells up to 20%!
GLOWING SKIN- During sexy time, your body perspires (becomes wet with sweat) which helps flush out toxins and releases skin- nourishing oils. Deep breathing and an elevated heart rate also causes more oxygen to flow in to the body. This keeps organs and tissues extra healthy!
There you have it! Sex\orgasms can be a great tool for a variety of healthy reasons.
*NOTE* This does not mean you should have sex to be healthy!! In my opinion sex is ment to be a special experience that happens with the person you love. WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE READY!!
Resources: Ezilone Infobase news and articles. (2007, April 04). The benefits of orgasm: Getting hot and healthy! . Retrieved from http://www.ezilon.com/articles/articles/4699/1/The-Benefits-of-Orgasm:-Getting-Hot-and-Healthy!
Picture- Dody Farial, D. (Designer). (2011). Couple in love. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://mahmoedmsoft.blogspot.com/2011/04/couple-in-love-wallpapers.html
WIKI POST #7
Pimples
Everyone HATES pimples and that's an established fact. But, as I look in the mirror I am wondering what exactly pimples are and what is the best way to rid yourself of the nasty, little zits that may come your way!
What: A pimple is a small papule (small, solid, rounded bumps that rise from the skin) or pustule (full of puss). Pimples are oil glands that are infected by bacteria and eventually swell up and fill with puss. They are also said to be small skin lesions or inflammation of the skin.
Cause: Pimples are caused by the sebaceous glands (tiny skin glands which secrete sebum - an waxy/oily substance, to lubricate the skin and hair) when they become overactive.
The sebaceous glands are located inside the pores of our skin. Most times pimples may occur because dead skin cells are left behind and are stuck together by the sticky sebum, which causes a blockage in our pores. Once the blockage occurs the sebum has a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes. Propionibacterium is a slow growing bacterium that is linked to acne. Thankfully this kind of bacteria is harmless, but in the right conditions it can produce rapidly and become a problem...aka LOTS OF PIMPLES.
Treatment: On T.V. we all watch these beautiful people with perfect skin, try to convince us that what they use works. LETS GET REAL HERE!!! They all have specialists and makeup artists who can fix just about any skin problem. So, instead of spending all your money on skin products that Justin Beiber claims "cleared ALL his acne" here are 5 simple steps to follow to better enhance your chance from breaking out!
WASH YOUR FACE with warm water and a mild soap. Scrub gently!
DO NOT POP YOUR PIMPLES! Popping pimples could cause scarring and it could increase the swelling and redness of your pimple
TRY NOT TO TOUCH YOUR FACE.The amount of oils and bacteria on our hands is discusting and if those get into your pores you may end up with some clogging of the pores which would = pimples!
WASH YOUR HANDS as frequently as possible. Make sure to keep your nails clean and short.
KEEP YOUR HAIR CLEAN!!! The oilsand sebum from your hair also have the ability to clog up those pores!
FUN FACTS:
More then 80% of teenagers have pimples at 1 point
Having pimples or acne can be hereditary
Pimples are NOT contagious
Most commun places pimples are found- face, back and chest. These are places where hair touches most and a greater amount of sebum is produced because of the warm and sometimes tight conditions of clothing.
Stress may also cause pimples
In my opinion, the most important thing to remember is that if you develop pimples here and there... NO ONE WILL CARE! So, stop stressing, don't touch it and just get over it! Everyone gets pimples.
References:
Christian Nordqvist , C. (2009, Feburary 25). What are pimples (zits, spots)? what causes pimples? [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/71702.php
Christian Nordqvist , C. (2010, June 11). What are the treatments for pimples? how can i treat my pimples? [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/191530.php
Danial Faris, D. (Designer). (2011). Oh pimples. well. let just say pimple. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://mrdanialfaris.blogspot.com/2011/07/oh-pimples-well-let-just-say-pimple.html
HOMEWORK POST #2
STEM CELL RESEARCH
In my opinion, I am all for stem cell research. If we can save lives for people who have diseases that are uncurable without the help of embryonic stem cells, then why wouldn't we take advantage of this incredible opportunity that has presented itself? But, with saying that I can see how some people may see it as being morally wrong because technically taking the inner cell mass from the blastocyst is "killing" the organism. Although, I honestly think that if a person was diagnosed with an uncurable disease like Parkinsons and they were given the choice to choose between life with them using embryonic stem cells or death without them, the person would most likly chose life. In the end, morals don't always matter and most times people are selfish. It's unfair to kill innocent organisms, but it's also unfair to have the propor technology and not use it to save peoples lfes'. I see it that we should take advantage of the possibilities.
1. I agree that the unused embryos in IVF clinics should be made availible to researchers for stem cell research. If people are not ok with embryos being used then how would they feel if they were being "discarded"?????? Atleast keep them for research so it's not a complete waste.
2. If we have the technology to improve human life, then we should absolutly build on that technology.
3. I don't agree that the government should fund emryonic stem cells research with taxpayer monies simply because so many people would have such a HUGE problem with it. I do think that the government should find some way to fund the research though.
4. I think the government could regulate stem cell research, but those people in the government are not the scientists who are researching all these possiblities and I think it would be a little harder to understand if you wern't hands on apart of what science is doing and I think certain people in the government would have a problem with stem cell research because of their belifs. I think there should be some kind of lead scientist who must tell everything to a committee in the government so they always know what's going on.
5. Laws for adult stem cells should differ from embryonic stem cells to a certain extent. Obviously, you must get the donars consent for donating emryonic stem cells and they should be well aware what is being researched and what happens to the embryos. It must be in a controled environment that is lead by a mai scientist and is always aware of what is happening. For adult stem cells I think as long as you have the donars consent and if they are to be reseached they are done in a controlled way, then there is no problem.
6. I agree that therapeutic cloning should be permitted. It is another way that we can save peoples lifes' and I see it as being unfair if we were to prevent saving life's.
References:
JR Minkel. (Photographer). (2008). Embryos survive stem cell harvest. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=embryos-survive-stem-cell-harvest
WIKI POST #8
Crazy in Love
What is love? Is it classifed by what you would do for a person, what you say to a person, or maybe, what you feel with a person? Well, love could be classifed as any of those things. But, my question is...is it possible to be "crazy" in love?!
When you feel yourself becomming more and more attracted to someone in an emotional or physical sense there are 3 major chemicals that are released- phenethylamine, dopamine, and oxytocin. Phenethylamine is an endorphin that makes people feel happy and attached; Dopamine is known as the "pleasure chemical" (enough said) and oxytocin is released through touch and sensual acts (cuddling hormone). Because all these emotions make us feel warm and happy it is only natural that these hormones are secreted when being around the person whom we are interested in.
When the "love chemicals" are firing away, physical changes begin to happen - swea
ty palms (story of my life), light-headness and feelings of euphoria.
Now heres where things get weird...A 2005 study published in The Physcologist, that Neurochemical and brain scanning investigations have shown a considerable overlap between the "brain in love" and the "brain in the throes of mental illness". So, basically, when people say they are "madly in love", they're not far off!! When people fall in love they frequently show a variety of symptoms that fall under several categories of mental illness. EXAMPLE 1- When people are going through a maniac state they show an abnormal amount of self esteem, heightened mood and tend to do out of the norm type things like buy people incredible gifts. (Nudge, nudge)
EXAMPLE 2- People who suffer from obsessive- compulsive disorder must be fixed on a certain thing like turning lights on and off, constantly cleaning or even double/triple checking your phone for any missed calls or texts. (Hint, hint)
EXAMPLE 3- People who hoard things like to hang on to valueless items such as toys, socks, tickets, love notes, ect. (Wink, wink)
Hmmmmmhh...crazy eh!!?
Now you know that the next time you're feeling crazy in love remember to be careful... You're suffering from bits of different kinds of mental illnesses!!!
But, I am still a beleiver of true love and all the beauty it brings to one's life. I hope everyone experiences being crazy inlove atleast once! :)
References:
Devine Caroline, D. (2009, February 24). Head over heels: The physical effects of falling in love. Retrieved from http://www.thefrisky.com/2009-02-24/physical-effects-falling-in-love/
Ori Pearl, O. (Photographer). (2011). Tag: girl in love. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://nolovenoheart.com/tag/girl-in-love-2/page/2
WIKI POST #9
Gallstones
The gallblader is a small organ located right under the livers. It's main function is to store bile, made by the liver. Bile is made up of water, cholesteral, fats, bile salts and a pigment called bilirubin. Gallstones form if the bile contains too much cholesteral, bile salts, or bilirubin.
2 types of gallstones- 1. Cholesterol stones, which account for 80% of gallstones. Cholesteral stones contain mostly hardened cholesteral.
2. Pigment stones, which account for the other 20% of gallstones. Pigment stones contain bilirubin.
Shapes and sizes- Gallstones can range from being very tiny to as big as a golfball. There could also be multiple stones present in the gallbalder.
Symtoms- Gallstone attack- pain under the right shoulder, pain in back between shoulder blades, severe pain in the upper middle or upper right abdomen that increases and neasea/vomiting.
*Most people who have gallstones don't typically have any symptoms, these are known as "silent stones". Most times gallstones are detected during tests and usually don't need to be treated.
You could be a risk for gallstones IF...
you are over 60
you have diabetes- people with diabetes generally have high levels of fatty acid called triglycerides (increases chances of developing gallstones)
you are obese
rapid weight loss- causes liver to secrete extra bile into the gallbladder
woman between the ages of 20-60 are twice as likely to develop stones then men
How to prevent gallstones- There is no sure way to prevent gallstones, but these 4 easy habits could decrease your changes.
1.MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT. 2. If you have diabetes, control it. 3. Keep track of your cholesteral. 4. Be careful when on birth control or other hormone medicines. Extra estrogen can increase a woman's risk of gallstones.
STAY HEALTHY :)
References:
Body Health and Home. (2011). Gallstones. Retrieved from http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/channel_condition_info_details.asp?
Gallstones. (Photographer). (2011). The orginal gallstones.com. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://gallstones.com/
HOMEWORK POST #3
The Hot Zone - Part 1
1. Charles Monet, the book's first main character, takes a trip to Mount Elgon on New Years eve where he ends up contracting a lethal virus, known as Ebola. After just a few short days, Monet begins to feel the initial symptoms of Ebola: a headache, red eyes, backache, neausa, ect. Within a couple days he was flown to the to the Nairobi hospital in Africa. On the plane ride there, Monet becomes sicker and begins to throw up a black\red substance known as vomito negro or the black vomit. Not long after Monet arrives at the hospital he bleeds out in the lobby on the floor. Dr. Shem Musoke then comes to Monets rescue in an attempt to save him but has no such luck. While trying to save Monet's life, Dr. Musoke ends up catching something by accidently ingesting the virus by Monet throwing up all over him. Dr, Musoke is diagnosed with Marburg, a sister virus to Ebola, and ends up living even though he was near death at one point.
Part 1 also talks about Ebola in depth: where it originated, how it is caught, if there are any cures, what is known about it, other fatal cases, ect. This part of the book really gives you a good idea of how terrifying this strain of virus is. It was very interesting and I didn`t want to put down the book to take a break!
2. The first major "whoa" moment I had while reading the first part of The Hot Zone was when the frenchman Charles Monet came down with the mysterious illness that we would later find out was Ebola. I was so, so, so disgusted at the end of the first chapter when Richard Preston discribed Monet's death; "He became utterly weak, his spine goes weak and nereless and he losses all sense of balance, he leans over and brings up an incredible quantity of blood from his stomach and spills it onto the floor with a gasping groan. Then comes a sound like a bedsheet being torn in half, which is the sound of his bowels opening and venting blood from the anus. The blood is mixed with intestinal lining." As I was reading this part of the book, I was on my way to New York, driving in the car with a couple of my good friends and I honestly made them read it just so I could see their reactions!! It made me realize how crazy and scary things are that we have no idea about. I kept thinking about what I would do if I knew someone who was suffering from the Ebola virus and it was really scary to think about. Can you imagine if someone you loved caught a deadly virus? What would you do?
As the twenty first century becomes more knowledgable and advanced then any other time in history, we are comming up with new cures and new advantages to help protect ourselves from pathogenes. With saying that, I found a website that states that "Army Researchers found a possible cure for the Ebola virus strain. It states that Army Labs have devised an experimental injection that cures the Ebola virus by targeting its's genetic material- " The injection uses a novel technique, called RNA interference, to stop viral cells from replicating. Scientists packaged RNA snippets into particles that were then injected into four rhesus monkeys, who’d been infected with a dose of Ebola that was 30,000 times more potent than the virus’ most lethal strain. The snippets latched onto key viral proteins, and cured all four monkeys after a week of daily injections." How exciting is that!! If they're developing a cure for monkeys then can't they develop the same one for humans?? Hopefully!
References: Katie Drummond, K. (2010, June 04). Army researchers find an ebola cure. but it might only save themselves. Retrieved from http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/06/army-researchers-find-an-ebola-vaccine-but-it-might-only-save-themselves/
Nicole Feied, F. (Photographer). (2009). Center for biologic counterterrorism . [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.bepast.org/dataman.pl?c=lib&dir=docs/photos/Ebola
HOMEWORK POST #4
The Hot Zone - Part 2
1. Part 2 of The Hot Zone skips to four years later where Nancy Jaax and her husband, Jerry, are introduced. Nancy and Jerry both work in the army in the Vet Corps in Fort Detrick (the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command). They begin helping out with the sick monkeys at a monkey house that were imported from Uganda and soon relaize that something is wrong. Monkeys keep dying and they can't quite understand why, until a lab technition, Thomas Geisbert, discovers that they are dealing with a lethal virus, which he thought was Marburg. "This cell was a mess. It wasn't just dead-it had been destroyed. It was blown apart." -pg 195. Thomas then told his bosses who told him to test it for Ebola and to their horror, he discovered that the monkeys were dying from something much worse than Marburg; they were dying from Ebola Zaire.
A big board meeting is then called where the Army and the Centers for disease Control are forced to split the management of the outbreak. The CDC would handle human-health care aspects and the Army would handle the monkeys and the monkey house, the nest of the outbreak. Jerry Jaax is then assigned to lead the missions at the monkey house where all the rsearch and testing will be happening.
2. In the second part of this book I found it interesting to read about how long it took the researchers to figure out that the monkey's were dying from an extreamly lethal virus that could possibly be Ebola or an Ebola carrying agent. It is really scary to think about too! Most of the symptoms were right infront of them the whole time (glazed over eyes, sudden,repetitive deaths, lots of blood, ect), but I think the reality of the most lethal virus known to man kind, entering the United States was too scary for anyone to want to believe, at first.
When reading about the deadly situations people put themselves in, it really o
pens my eyes and makes me realize how selfish so many people are. Not many people would be willing to put there lives at risk for a horrible, lethal, painful virus to try to save (potentially) the world. BUT, at the same time, those people were being selfish because they were working with such a risky thing that could end their life. What would YOU do???!
I decided to do some research on how easy it would be to contract Ebola in sanitary conditions and this is what I came up with: Despite the extremely high fatality rate of certain strains of Ebola, health officials state that, under sanitary conditions, the virus is actually difficult to contract. Like HIV, Ebola spreads through direct contact with an infected person's blood or bodily fluids. Unlike HIV, which can live inside an individual and be passed along to others for ten years or more before symptoms appear, Ebola has a relatively short incubation period. Once the symptoms of Ebola appear, precautions can be taken to halt its spread to others. Health officials say that because Ebola kills its victims so quickly, the chance of the virus ever becoming widespread among human populations is low. What a relief! It makes sense why it spread so fast in places like Africa because, sadly, the don't have the same resources we do such as a constant supply of clean drinking water, clean needles, ect.
Hopefully, such a lethal disease will never attack the human race again!!
References:
Tropical Diseases. (2008, April 20). Ebola virus. Retrieved from http://www.mayaparadise.com/ebola.htm
Phil Anderson, P. (Photographer). (2011). Richard preston’s the hot zone: Summary, setting, characters. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from [[http://schoolworkhelper.net/2011/05/richard-preston’s-the-hot-zone-summary-setting-characters/]]
HOMEWORK POST #5
The Hot Zone- Part 3
1. Part 3 of The Hot Zone mostly takes place in an infected monkey house, situated in Reston. Jerry Jaxx forms a team of people who are trained and prepared to deal with the deadly virus known as Ebola that the team will face in the monkey house. Upon the first day of arrival, the team quickly comes to realize that word has spread about the dangerous events that are happening inside the building. The team was very careful to not give anything away. They wore regular clothing when they arrived at the building so no reporters could make up false accusastions. When they were asked to go inside the building, the members of the team would go behind the building, where no one could see them, change into their bio-hazardous spacesuits and go through many safety precautions before they entered the building.
Jerry had to make a very difficult desicion, which was to kill all the monkeys in the building. He did this because he felt all the monkeys would eventually suffer from Ebola. Jerry used a special injector deviceto give shots to the monkeys and injected monkeys thighs' with a double dose of ketamine (a general anesthetic). When the monkeys were asleep they were placed on a stainless steal table and blood samples were drawn. The mokeys were then given a final, lethal shot of T-61. Once the mokeys were annonced clinically dead, they were opened up, where samples of liver and spleen were taken. The bodies were then bagged up and loaded into hatboxes along the corridor.
The signs of Ebola were obvious. Nancy Jaxx descirbed what she saw as "horrendous gut lessions". It was decided that they would call the virus Ebola Reston. This type of Ebola (for now) could only infect monkeys and was airborn.
After all the mokeys were killed and every member on the team had finished which ever job they were assigned, a decon team scrubbed the building with bleech, brought 39 Sunbeam electric fry pans and dropped a handful of disinfectant crystals. The master switch was thrown on on December 18; the Sunbeams began to cook and the crystals began to release formaldehyde gas. After a few days they concluded that the sterlization process was a succsess. The monkey house in Reston was the only place in the world where nothing lived, nothing at all.
As soon as I read this quote I was completly mesmorized. It is a complicated metaphor that is so perfect for this lethal virus in the monkey house known as Reston. I believe that of all the things that go bump in our nightmares, the scariest are those that make no sound and that is why Ebola is so terrifying. No one really knows where it came from and no one knows the cure for it. Viruses sneak up on you without warning and attack.
I think this metaphor is referring to the strain of disease that was infecting the monkeys in the monkey house. It would eventually kill all the monkeys, but for some reason, it killed 0 humans. It also said that the strain of virus did in fact enter the monkey's care takers, but it did not infect them.
It's so strange and eerie to wonder why that happened. Just one little mutation could have started a major pandemic within the human race. So why didn't it? It's a great mystery.
References: Nicole Feied, F. (Photographer). (2009). Center for biologic counterterrorism . [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.bepast.org/dataman.pl?c=lib&dir=docs/photos/Ebola
HOMEWORK POST #6
The Hot Zone- Part 4
1. In the last part of The Hot Zone, Richard Preston goes on a trip to Mount Elgon. He travels there with a couple friends, Jamy Buchanan and Frederic Grant, along with a professional hunter, Robin MacDonald, and his family. Richard takes many safety precautions by packing: a level 4 biological space suit, a gallon of Jik (Bleech), green ruber gauntlet gloves, yellow ruber boots, a black mask, sticky tape, a plastic shower cap, a head lamp and a flashlight. Before Richard enters the cave he puts on all his gear and takes the flashlight in, where he begins to look around. While he is in the cave he notes all the life and diversity and all the possible hosts to the Ebola strain: fruit bats, insect bats, moths, flies, spiders, even rocks. Once he leaves the cave, him and his team head back to camp where a few of them begin to play poker and drink whiskey and beer. The novel finishes with Richard going to the abandon monkey house where he discovers that the building has been for lease for
many years. He looks into the windows and notes that there are living organisms in the building: spiders, Tartarian honeysuckle vines and other insects; Life is evident in the building. Richard concludes the book by stating that Ebola will be back.
2. While reading about Richard Preston's experience in the cave, it really made me think about how creepy and eerie it is that such a deadly strain is claimed to have once lived there. I thought about "the rush" you would get from going inside such a dangerous cave! I'm sure it would be quite terrifying, but also beautiful. The scenery in the cave seems mysterious and it makes me want to travel there to check it out one day! Would I take the precautions that Richard took while entering Mount Elgon or would I go in there in simple, regular hiking clothing? What would you do?
While reading The Hot Zone I had always wondered if Ebola was an RNA or DNA virus; it turns out it is an RNA virus. This makes sense because the book talked a lot about how quickly the Ebola strain could mutate and that was why it was so hard to find a cure for it. It is also an enveloped virus that is shapped like a "U".
This was a very enjoyable book to read and I would certainly recommend it to anyone who enjoys biology. Part 1 of The Hot Zone really hooks it's readers and makes us want to know more and more about the deadly virus known as Ebola. I hope one day a cure will be found for this deadly virus, that way there will be no more horrible deaths caused by Ebola.
References: CDC. (2011, November 22). Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/ebola.htm
Scott. (Photographer). (2003). Mount elgon. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.summitpost.org/mount-elgon/151794
WIKI POST #10
HIV
Throughout The Hot Zone, it talks a little bit about AIDS. I know that AIDS comes from the virus HIV and I wanted to find out what HIV is and facts about it. It seems to me that HIV is one of the largest problems in the world; it's heart breaking.
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrom) which is caused by HIV (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus), is one of the most commonly known sexually- trasmitted diseases in all of the world. AIDS appereared around 25 years ago and quickly spread through the world. At the moment, there are approximently 33 million cases all through out the world. It can affect anyone, anywhere. So, my question is where did this terrible strain of virus come from and what (exactly) does it do to you?
HIV originally came from chimpanzees living in Central Africa. Authorities claim that the virus strain has been present in chimpanzees for thousands of years
HIV is known as an RNA virus; it can mutate into different strains that can affect different hosts
Researchers believe that HIV entered humans in African hunter's bodies, through wounds while hunting chimpanzees
From there, it quicky spread through out the world
What does HIV do?
The main thing that many people often overlook is that HIV does not make you sick; it weakens your immune system making you more susceptible to illnesses and infections.
This strain of virus enters your body and attacks your CD4 T cells (a special type of white blood cells that play an important role in our immune systems) and replicates inside the cells. The virus slowly beings to kill these cells without warning or symtoms.
CD4 T cell depletion during AIDS allows various pathogens to escape T cell recognition, thus allowing infections that would normally elicit a helper T cell response to bypass the immune system. You become sick very easily and after years of living with this disease, your body is no longer strong enough to fight off anything.
Treatment?
Sadly, there is no cure for this horrible disease, although, I did read about a patient who recieved a stem cell transplant and was cured, but this is not recommened for HIV due to the high mortality rate and uncertain chance of success. :(
Hopefully one day, science will catch up with this terrible disease and we can find a way to beat and cure it.
Watch this video to learn about how HIV attacks your CD4 T cells...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2h0ECyMWhE
References: Sam Hadley, H. (2009, December 6). Where did aids come from?. Retrieved from http://tafj.org/2009/12/06/where-did-aids-come-from/
Wikipedia. (2007, December ). T helper cell. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_helper_cell
Mark Cichocki, C. (2009, June 7). Symptoms of hiv - what does hiv do to your body?. Retrieved from http://aids.about.com/od/frequentlyaskedquestions/f/hivdo.htm
Mary Cowley, C. (Photographer). (2011). Relieving trauma of job layoffs. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://tfttraumarelief.wordpress.com/
greatpacificmedia (Producer). (2009). Hiv destroys helper t-cells | biology | anatomy | immunology . [Web Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?